Latest news with #JuneteenthCelebration
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Celebrate freedom and Black heritage on Juneteenth with parade, stories, art in Knoxville
Juneteenth ‒ also known as Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day and Freedom Day ‒ falls on a Thursday this year and will be marked in Knoxville with festivals, a parade, music and other activities on and around June 19 to celebrate Black freedom. Officially declared a Tennessee state holiday two years ago − and a federal holiday four years ago − Juneteenth will be observed by federal, city of Knoxville and Knox County employees. Juneteenth (short for June 19th) marks the date in 1865 when the last enslaved people in Texas were informed they were free and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. The holiday is often celebrated with music, services, food, parades and other activities. It's also an opportunity to learn more about Black and African American history and culture while reflecting on how slavery and racism has affected our communities and what it means to be truly free. If you would like to see your Juneteenth event featured on this list, email June 14 – Green McAdoo Cultural Center The Green McAdoo Cultural Center will have its fourth annual Juneteenth Celebration at 6 p.m. with live performances from Jorden Albright and The event is free and will have local artists and food vendors present. For more event information, visit June 19 – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission The 2025 MLK Jr. Parade/March and Juneteenth Celebration, presented by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission, will begin with registration and line-up at 8:30 a.m. at Chilhowee Park. The parade will begin at 10 a.m., proceeding down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and ending at Dr. Walter Hardy Park. The Juneteenth Celebration will start at 11 a.m. at the park. The celebration will include live entertainment, a DJ, music performances, dancing, a drill team, kids' area, food vendors and retail vendors. For more information and to register, visit June 19 and June 21 – Mabry-Hazen House The Mabry-Hazen House, featuring generations of family artifacts and heirlooms, will share emancipation stories about local enslaved communities. Visitors can explore how enslaved people connected to the Mabry-Hazen House gained their freedom and fought to dismantle American chattel slavery. Three special Juneteenth Day tours will start at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Patrick Hollis, the executive director of Mabry-Hazen House, will give a presentation at 6 p.m. June 19 on the life and emancipation of Wiley Mabry. The story offers a celebratory yet sobering tale of the lengths enslaved African-Americans took to obtain their freedom. On June 21, two Juneteenth Day tours will be offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Admission is free, but reservations are encouraged, and donations are appreciated. Visit for more information and to make reservations. June 21 – Anderson County Democrats Join the Anderson County Democrats to celebrate freedom, community and resilience at the Juneteenth Celebration in Scarboro. This family-friendly gathering will take place at the Scarboro Community Center 3-8:30 p.m. The event includes food, music, performances and local vendors. Visit for more information. June 21 – The Bottom Join The Bottom for the Juneteenth LitKidz Workshop, where a reading of "Tell Me About Juneteenth" by Kortney Nash will be presented. Participants will be able to make Juneteenth-themed bracelets after story time. Each family that participates will receive a copy of the book, and snacks will be served. You do not have to be a part of the LitKidz program to attend the workshop. This workshop is most appropriate for children ages 5-12. For more information and to make reservations, visit Through Aug. 2 – UT Downtown Gallery "Remembering: Resist, Reveal, ReClaim" is presented by the Crafting Blackness initiative, a five-year collaborative research, publication and exhibition series to advance the visibility of Black Craft and African American artists in Tennessee since 1920 up to present. The exhibition is co-curated by Karlota Contreras-Koterbay, director of Slocumb Galleries at East Tennessee State University and director of the Crafting Blackness Initiative, and Dr. Cynthia Gadsden, associate professor of art history at Tennessee State University, whose research areas include the visual arts, the lived experience and the ways knowledge is transferred across generations via culture, relationships, and story. The exhibit will be on display at the UT Downtown Gallery until Aug. 2. For more information on the exhibit and gallery hours, visit This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville Juneteenth events 2025: Celebrate with parade, stories, more
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Juneteenth in Pensacola will be celebration for all, with festivals, food and unity
Come July, we'll celebrate the nation's freedom and independence. But on Juneteenth, we celebrate the freedom and independence of the nation's people. All of its people. And, actually, we'll be celebrating on Juneteenth − June 19th, as well as the days leading up to the newest federal holiday which commemorates the date in 1865 when Union Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and announced that all enslaved people in Texas were free. President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Emancipation Proclamation ending legal slavery in the United States two years earlier. Enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation usually came with the advance of Union troops into a region, and Texas, the most remote outpost of the Confederacy, was the last to formally receive the news of freedom for all. Florida received the news on May 20, 1865, just a few weeks before the Texas announcement. Pensacola now celebrates Florida's Emancipation Day, as does much of Florida. But the nation celebrates Juneteenth − it became a federal holiday in 2021 − and there are plenty of ways to celebrate, commemorate and observe the holiday here in Pensacola: Watson Family Foundation's 4th annual Juneteenth: A Family Reunion for the Culture Festival, noon to 6 p.m., June 14 at Museum Plaza, 300 S. Tarragona St. The free event will feature live entertainment and presentations, a sweet potato pie contest, domino and spades tournaments, line dancing, dramatic presentations, a scholarship presentation, food, vendors and much more. Details: Juneteenth Celebration at the University of West Florida, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 16 at the UWF Commons Auditorium. The free event will feature speakers, history presentations, live musical performances and more. Bruce Beach Kayak Tour: Journey to Juneteenth, 9:30 a.m. to noon, June 18, 601 W. Main St. Hosted by the UWF Archaeology Institute and the Florida Public Archaeology Network, those with their own kayaks are invited to join on a free tour of Bruce Beach near the historic Tanyard neighborhood, long a home for Black and Creole folks, as well as immigrants and others. Though there is no cost, tickets are required and can be acquired at Five Sisters' Blues Cafe Juneteenth Celebration, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., June 19, 421 W. Belmont St., in the heart of the historic Belmont-DeVilliers neighborhood − a historic neighborhood known for its African American history, music, food and culture. Chef Josh Rich will present a menu featuring barbecued fried ribs, Southern catfish bites, and more. Details: UnityFest 2025 − A Community Celebration of Freedom, noon to 4 p.m., June 19, Adoration for a New Beginning Church, 920 W. Government St. A celebration of African American culture for all, featuring live music, a kids zone, free food and more. Details can be found on the Unity Fest 2025 Facebook events page. Gallery Night - Juneteenth: The Art of Freedom, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. June 20, Palafox Place. More than 70 art vendors will line the street during the festive monthly street celebration, along with music, food and more with a focus on Juneteenth and African American culture. Details: Plenty of options to celebrate. And that, truly, is what Juneteenth is all about. "They didn't know they were free," said Barbara Wells, president of the UWF Black Employees Association, which is sponsoring the UWF event. "This celebrates when they found out they were free. It's almost a birthday celebration of that freedom." Kimberly Watson, president of the Watson Family Foundation, said last year's annual Juneteenth: Family Reunion for the Culture Festival attracted about 3,000 people, from "all walks of life, ages and ethnicities." "It's a way to celebrate culture," she said. "But it's also a celebration of freedom where we can reflect on the past and look forward to the future." This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Juneteenth in Pensacola includes festivals, food, unity celebration
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Is the DMV open on Juneteenth? Yes, here's what else is in Pensacola, Florida
On June 19, 1865, the last enslaved Black people were finally told they were free. The date came 2½ years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and two months after the Civil War ended. In celebration of Black freedom in the United States, we celebrate Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day or the Second Independence Day. Former President Joe Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021. Now, it makes up one of 11 federal holidays observed every year. Thursday is only the fifth year that Juneteenth has been a federal holiday. Currently, only about half of the states recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday, excluding Florida. Florida state law designates Juneteenth as a day of observance, instead of a holiday. All non-essential federal government buildings will be closed, but what about the stock market, DMV and local grocery stores? Here's what we know. Watson Family Foundation's 4th annual Juneteenth: A Family Reunion for the Culture Festival The free event took place June 14 at Museum Plaza, featuring live entertainment including a performance from "Da Hawg," games, bounce houses, a sweet potato pie contest, domino and spades tournaments, line dancing, food, vendors selling art and African clothing and more. Juneteenth Celebration at the University of West Florida Presented by the Black Employees Association, the UWF Juneteenth celebration on June 16 featured speakers, history presentations, live musical performances, food and more, at the UWF Commons Auditorium. Bruce Beach Kayak Tour: Journey to Juneteenth 9:30 a.m. to noon, June 18, 601 W. Main St. Hosted by the UWF Archaeology Institute and the Florida Public Archaeology Network, those with their own kayaks are invited to join on a free tour of Bruce Beach near the historic Tanyard neighborhood, long a home for Black and Creole folks, as well as immigrants and others. Though there is no cost, tickets are required and can be acquired at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade The 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade will take place at 10 a.m. June 19 in downtown Pensacola after the original January showcase was cancelled due to unsafe weather conditions when the area was hit with a historic snow storm. The theme is 'One Team - One Dream.' Five Sisters' Blues Cafe Juneteenth Celebration 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., June 19, 421 W. Belmont St., in the heart of the historic Belmont-DeVilliers neighborhood − a historic neighborhood known for its African American history, music, food and culture. Chef Josh Rich will present a menu featuring barbecued fried ribs, Southern catfish bites, and more. For more details, visit UnityFest 2025 A Community Celebration of Freedom, noon to 4 p.m., June 19, Adoration for a New Beginning Church, 920 W. Government St. A celebration of African American culture for all, featuring live music, a kids zone, free food and more. Details can be found on the Unity Fest 2025 Facebook events page. Gallery Night - Juneteenth: The Art of Freedom 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. June 20, Palafox Place. More than 70 art vendors will line the street during the festive monthly street celebration, along with music, food and more with a focus on Juneteenth and African American culture. For more, visit More: Juneteenth in Pensacola will be celebration for all, with festivals, food and unity Yes. Former President Joe Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021. It is one of 11 federal holidays observed every year. The others are: New Year's Day Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Washington's Birthday/Presidents Day Memorial Day July 4 Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Christmas Day Juneteenth will be celebrated on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Juneteenth marks the day, June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved Black people in the United States were finally told — 2½ years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and two months after the Civil War ended — that they were free. The first Juneteenth celebration was held in Galveston the very next year, in 1866. Early celebrations were smaller, subdued affairs amid renewed calls for racial segregation and the rise of racial violence, lynchings and Jim Crow laws in the state and across the South. It wasn't until the civil rights protests of the 1960s and 70s many decades later when Juneteenth was finally celebrated in a big way as an act of defiance and pride, and it gained new prominence in 2020 after the police murder of George Floyd, a Black man, sparked protests across the country against police brutality, according to USA TODAY. Juneteenth is a federal holiday, not an official state one. For federal workers it's a paid holiday and nonessential federal workers will have the day off, although some businesses offer it as a paid day for their employees. Only about half of the states in the U.S. recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday, although more are considering it. Some Florida county commissions and city councils have declared Juneteenth a recognized holiday and closed offices. 'Juneteenth' is a portmanteau, combining the words 'June' and 'nineteenth,' the day Granger issued the proclamation to more than 250,000 formerly enslaved people in Galveston Bay, Texas. Yes, major grocery stores will be open Thursday, June 19: Publix: Publix will be open on June 19. The supermarket closes only for three holidays during the year: Easter, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. Walmart: Open regular hours The Fresh Market: Open regular hours ALDI: Open regular hours. Stores are closed on New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. On Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, ALDI operates on limited store hours. Winn-Dixie: Open regular hours Target: Open regular hours Ever'man Cooperative Grocery & Cafe: Open regular hours BJ's Wholesale Club: Open regular hours Juneteenth is a federal holiday. All non-essential federal offices will be closed. Postal service retail locations will be closed Thursday and there will be no regular mail delivery except for holiday premium Priority Mail Express, the United States Post Office said in a release. UPS Store locations will be open on June 19, according to the company's holiday schedule, and UPS pickup and delivery services will be available. All FedEx offices will be open on June 19 and all services will be available, the company website says. Juneteenth is a Federal Reserve bank holiday, according to The Federal Reserve is the organization that regulates the nation's banking system. Banks aren't required to close for Federal Reserve holidays, but they generally do. Check with your local bank or credit union to check their hours. Online banking services and ATMs will still be available, but any transactions made during on June 19 won't be posted until the next business day. The New York Stock Exchange is closed on federal holidays and will be closed on Juneteenth, according to its website. Yes. All Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles locations will be open, according to the holiday schedule. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Juneteenth holiday in Pensacola. Is Publix open? How to celebrate
Axios
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
How to honor Juneteenth in Tampa Bay
Juneteenth is on Thursday, and there are numerous ways to celebrate the holiday across Tampa Bay. Why it matters: Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day enslaved people in Texas learned of their emancipation. The big picture: Despite recent backlash against civil rights and discussions of racism, celebrations of the holiday are growing, Axios' Russell Contreras reports. Zoom in: Here's how to celebrate locally: Tampa Bay Juneteenth Festival, Tampa: This weeklong celebration kicks off Monday night with a youth summit, continues through the week with community discussions and a Top Golf fundraiser and culminates in a free block party-style festival on Saturday at Raymond James Stadium. Juneteenth Celebration on the Deuces, St. Petersburg: This party in the heart of St. Pete's Black business district will feature vendors, artists and more. 11am-8pm Thursday at The Catalyst on the Deuces Tampa Heights Cultural Fest - A Juneteenth Community Celebration, Tampa: This free, family-friendly event will include live music, local vendors, food, a community kickball game and more. 5-9pm Sunday at the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association Juneteenth Arts Festival, Sarasota: Join the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe for a free day of local art and short films, a free jazz concert, a documentary screening and more. 11am-7pm Sunday at the troupe's North Orange Avenue campus Juneteenth: A Freedom Celebration, Tarpon Springs: Catch water slides, live music, line dancing and free food at this festival in east Tarpon.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Juneteenth celebration in Rockford to feature Lakeside funk band
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford will commemorate 'Liberation Day' for African Americans who were enslaved in the United States with the city's annual Juneteenth Celebration, on Thursday, June 16th. The event will be held at Sinnissippi Park, starting at 1 p.m. The celebration will include food vendors, retail vendors, local performances, stories and a celebration of history, a Community Awards Ceremony, karaoke contest, and a talent show hosted by Harlan Jefferson of Live at Levings. Hard Rock Casino Rockford has partnered with the city to bring funk band Lakeside, known for hits like 'Fantastic Voyage' and 'It's All the Way Live,' to perform at the casino at 8:30 p.m. Free tickets can be picked up at the Hard Rock Casino box office or at the Juneteenth Rockford Celebration. 'We are so excited that through the support and partnership of our premier sponsor, Hard Rock Casino Rockford, we are able to bring a high-caliber performance by Lakeside on a day of celebration—Juneteenth, Freedom Day,' says Tommy Meeks, leader of Juneteenth Rockford. 'Juneteenth is a powerful reminder of the resilience, strength, and determination of the black community and our allies. It honors our shared history and inspires us all to continue creating belonging. We invite everyone of all backgrounds to join in on this community celebration.' According to a press release, 'Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day when the last enslaved African Americans in Confederate states were freed by the Union Army—six months before the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States. This year marks the 35th anniversary of Rockford's Juneteenth Celebration, the oldest known celebration of its kind in Illinois.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
